- How to Sound Clever explains the etymology of 600 key words you really ought to know, but haven"t had the time to look up in the dictionary. Each entry features an etymological description as well as useful example phrases so that readers can quickly see the correct context for each word. Anecdotes and witty illustrations appear throughout to make a book that is entertaining and will help the reader to boost their vocabulary. An ideal gift and a useful book for everyone have to hand when they come across a word you should know, but don"t. Colin Dexter has described How to Sound Clever thus: "This admirable book is a wholly welcome antidote to the semi-demi-literacy of the 21st century. Go out and buy it".